Thursday, September 26, 2013

Earth Balance Giveaway!

It's time for a giveaway! And I guess this is what you'd call a sponsored post. I don't typically do those. Sure, I get free stuff to review sometimes. But those are review posts, and I'm free to express my opinion — like or dislike — about a product.

But there's not much I don't like about Earth Balance. It's the vegan answer to margarine, and as a lady who used to eat dairy margarine by the stick (yes, my Granny let me do that when my parents weren't around), I truly appreciate having a delicious, non-hydrogenated, and widely available vegan alternative. So when Earth Balance contacted me about hosting a giveaway during Mofo, I happily obliged.

At the end of this post, just leave a comment (and an email address) about how you love to use Earth Balance spreads and I'll randomly select a few winners next Tuesday for some Earth Balance free product coupons.

But first I'm including one of my recipes from Cookin' Crunk: Eatin' Vegan in the Dirty South that I like to use a very specific Earth Balance product in. The Earth Balance Organic Coconut Spread is awesome in both savory and sweet applications. My omni boyfriend Paul just eats it plain by the spoonful. I wouldn't recommend that, but it's great on toast with nooch, used in stir-fries, melted over mashed potatoes. Or you can try it in my Granny's recipe for Old-Fashioned Coconut Pie from my cookbook.

Stir together the sugar, flour, and
sea salt in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

Whisk together the egg replacer and
1/3 cup of the soymilk in another large mixing bowl or in the bowl of a stand
mixer. Add the margarine and beat until margarine is creamy. Add the 1/2 cup of
soymilk and beat until everything is incorporated. Pour the flour mixture into
the mixing bowl and beat until just combined.

Use a spoon to fold in 1 cup of the
shredded coconut. Transfer the filling into the uncooked pie crust. Top with
the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded coconut. Bake for 1 hour.

I kind of let my kid eat earth balance straight up. Ok, I do let her. It started with, like you, her grandparents, and then it became a way to bribe/reward her into eating the rest of her meal: "eat X and you can have a plop of butter [always EB]" seems to work pretty well and now it's become her "thing" that we let her do sometimes (not everyday - but often enough that we go through the HUGE tubs of it pretty regularly!).

I have tried coconut spread by a few other companies but the local grocery doesn't stock Earth Balance in that flavor. I would probably have to go to Whole Foods or somewhere like that (hour drive). I did find an olive oil blend I like, tho.

Earth balance is doing some great things. Now if they could only find a way to make it without palm oil.

Btw, I made the stuffed peppers from your cookbook a couple days ago and they are awesome! I switched out the TVP for some Upton's Naturals ground seitan and they were delicious! Thanks for the great recipe. My first stuffed pepper. Looking forward to trying more from your book. Maybe that coconut cream pie...

OK- this might be cheating. I'm not yet vegan. But I am exploring taking the plunge... every recipe I come across has Earth Balance in it, but I have yet to take the plunge and buy any, mostly because it's pretty pricey! I'd love to try it out!!!

Love love love earth balance !! i always have some in my fridge - i havent tried the coconut spread yet though !! We love E.B on our morning vegan bagel or waffles :) SO good !! Also can not wait to make that pie.

I love Earth Balance because it gives omnivores no excuses about butter. It tastes better even!! I love surprising friends and family with substitutions like this. Some have even switched over because the love the taste!

I've just returned to The Dirty South after being away for over 20 years, almost half of it spend in the UK. I've been hearing about Earth Balance for years and have been wanting to try it. Now I have my chance. I'd love to have coupons to help me get started stocking my vegan kitchen here. It's been two weeks today that I've been back and haven't had a chance to start stocking up. When I do get some Earth Balance and have a chance to stock my pantry, your recipe is at the top of the list! I've also got your cookbook on my Amazon wishlist along with other cookbooks I had to leave behind. I'm a cookbook hoarder.

I've loved earth balance since before I learned it was a vegan darling. It's just always been the best of the non-butter spreads. I've heard so much about their new products, I'd love to give them a try.

And the stuffed peppers someone talked about--I've gotta get on those!

I LOVE earth balance, and I also used to eat margarine by the spoonful (we got tubs). I would joke that I got butter sick, and years later my dad sent me an article about researchers surviving on butter in Antarctica and how they got sick from it. Truly butter sick. : ) I am in the process of moving and I haven't restocked Earth Balance for that reason--can't wait to be settled in and buy a new tub!

I haven't used the coconut spread but would use it on the coconut pie (which I have a post-it on in your cookbook.) I love Earth Balance spread and use it on everything but especially love it on a warm slice of fresh bread just out of the oven.(email-lockesdaydreams@aol.com)

I love Earth Balance. For a vegan starved Memphis it is amazingly easy to find (Kroger). I stopped the Parkay sticks when I went through puberty and started gaining weight. Now it's Earth Balance for toast, bagels, grilled cheese, cookies, pie crusts, sauces, pancakes/waffles, corn on the cob, grilled tofu, etc...Belinda, heflin5@yahoo.com

I love your blog and I love earth balance! Sometimes as a snack I will spread a thin layer of EB on saltines with some nooch and then microwave it for 20-30 seconds and let cool, tastes like cheez-its sort of. Anyways, keep up the delicious work!bethedavidson@gmail.com

OMG! Ive was gonna get this a few months back but my small town doesnt have any and I dont like ordering food online. My bffs bday is coming up n I was gonna make her a pie. Ill make her this coconut pie:)Vacherie84@gmail.com

Not sure if you already picked the winner, but I still wanted to say that pie looks delicious. I am a whore for coconut, I swear LOL. We love Earth Balance on/in pretty much anything but the coconut spread is a MUST for my husband's Sunday pancakes. A. MUST.